First on 7: Shock swim coach allegations revealed
First on 7: The police statement that condemns one of Australia's top swimming coaches, who somehow escaped arrest and prosecution over decades of alleged child sex abuse, has been revealed by 7News.
Victims claim their ordeals have been covered up but are preparing to tell a Royal Commission of their suffering and the failure of a secret police strike force to lay charges.
A 25-page police statement of horrific allegations by a former Olympic swimmer was covered up for 14 years until unearthed by Royal Commission investigators.
They want to know why police suddenly wound up an investigation into former Australian swimming coach Terry Buck.
He allegedly attacked 29 victims, including four Olympians, two champion surfers and three men who have committed suicide.
Swimming Australia CEO Mark Anderson said: “I find such behaviour utterly deplorable and to that end we're absolutely supportive of the Royal Commission process."
Five years before Buck died, detectives from Strike Force Solano interviewed a victim over nine days in late 2000.
Just 22 days later police told the victim he was on his own, blaming ‘insufficient evidence’ and ‘a failure of other victims to come forward’.
Lawyer Nick Boyden said: “To discontinue it on the basis that there were no other complainants and no other evidence in my experience is somewhat irregular."
However, at least one other victim, a former first grade referee, had made allegations against Buck and was never contacted by police again.
The swimmer's statement maps exactly where the assaults took place in and around the surf club at picturesque Clovelly Beach.
Mr Anderson added: "All of these matters did occur some years ago but that doesn't underplay each of the cases and our responsibility to respond appropriately."
The Royal Commission hearings begin in two weeks.
